We are seven games into the 2017-18 men's basketball season and Memphis is off to a 5-2 start. There have plenty of close wins at home and two deflating defeats away from FedExForum for the Tigers' new-look roster.

With that in mind, here is the second edition of the Memphis basketball power rankings in which The Commercial Appeal ranks each player on the team by detailing what they're doing well and what can be improved.

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Memphis Coach Tubby Smith discusses how his team pulled off a win over Samford.
Mark Giannotto/The Commercial Appeal

1. G Jeremiah Martin

Stats: 16.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists
Last ranked: 1

Pros: Leads the team in points, assists, minutes, 3-pointers, free throws and steals. Got to the lane and generated offense in crunch time during narrow wins over Mercer and Samford. Only Memphis player to rank among the top 100 in the country in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.

Cons: He’s 2 for 14 from 3-point range over the past two games now that opponents are focusing their defenses on keeping him out of the paint.

2. F Kyvon Davenport

Stats: 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.0 blocks
Last ranked: 2

Pros: Only player besides Martin to score in double figures in every game this season. Leads team in 3-point percentage, blocks and rebounds, including team-high 19 offensive rebounds. Went 7 of 9 from free-throw line the past two games after starting the year 14 of 25 on foul shots.

Cons: Fouled out in overtime of Mercer game and has just two assists this season. Struggled to convert over length inside at UAB, when he also committed a season-high five turnovers.

3. G/F Jimario Rivers

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Pros: Leads team in field-goal percentage and his energy is crucial to team’s success. Emerging as a valuable rim protector and rebounder despite 6-foot-6 frame.

Cons: Needs to be more consistent. Set new career-highs in points in back-to-back games against New Orleans and Northern Kentucky, then went scoreless at UAB. Rebounded with 18 points and eight rebounds while playing career-high 42 minutes vs. Mercer, then had season-high four turnovers vs. Samford.

4. G Jamal Johnson

Stats: 6.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists
Last ranked: 7

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Memphis guard Jamal Johnson drives for a layup against the Northern Kentucky defense during first half action at the FedExForum in Memphis Tenn., Saturday, November 25, 2017.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Pros: Tigers’ best option off the bench and perhaps should be starting given his 3-point shooting ability, low turnover rate, and cool demeanor under pressure. Set career-high with 12 points against Northern Kentucky, when he hit two 3-pointers in crunch time. Scored 12 points again while playing career-high 39 minutes vs. Mercer. Also converted the game-winning 3-point play against Samford.

Cons: Still shooting just 29 percent from 3-point range and more than 70 percent of his field-goal attempts have come from beyond the arc.

5. Malik Rhodes

Stats: 3.6 points, 1.6 assists
Last ranked: 4

Pros: Best assist-to-turnover ratio on the team. Smith has praised him for embracing role as back-up point guard, which often frees up Martin to score more.

Cons: Committed bad turnover at end of Samford game. Shooting just 31.7 percent from the floor, and 20 percent from 3-point range. Perimeter defense is inconsistent.

6. F Victor Enoh

Stats: 1.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists
Last ranked: 8

Pros: Set career high for minutes and rebounds against Northern Kentucky and had best plus/minus rating on the team at UAB. Ranks fifth on the team in offensive efficiency, according to KemPom, despite playing the fewest minutes.

Cons: Played a combined four minutes the past two games, with Smith yanking him from the floor quickly following defensive lapses.

7. G/F David Nickelberry

Stats: 1.9 points, 2 rebounds, 0.6 assists
Last ranked: 10

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University of Memphis guard David Nickelberry (middle) makes a pass against the LeMoyne-Owen defense during first half action at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, November 2, 2017.(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Pros: Had six points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while playing career-best 23 minutes to help Tigers in come-from-behind win against Northern Kentucky. Appears to be a natural playmaker for a team that doesn't have many.

Cons: Smith hasn't used Nickelberry much since his breakout game. He did not play in the second half against Samford. Smith said defensive matchups were the main reason. Nickelberry is shooting team-worst 26.3 percent from the floor.

8. G Kareem Brewton, Jr.

Stats: 7.3 points, 2.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds
Last ranked: 5

Pros: Tied with Martin for team lead in steals and ranks second in assists and free-throw percentage. Excels when the Tigers get out in transition

Cons: Leads team in turnovers and hit just 3 of his 24 3-point attempts this year. His poor outside shooting bogs down the half-court offense. Smith doesn’t like that he gambles so much defensively.

9. F Raynere Thornton

Stats: 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.4 assists
Last ranked: 6

Pros: Grabbed career-best six rebounds at UAB and played most of the overtime periods against Mercer. Forced the turnover to set up the Tigers’ game-winning basket against Samford.

Cons: Highest turnover rate on the team, according to KenPom, and second-fewest field goal attempts. Shooting just 50 percent at the free-throw line.

10. F Mike Parks, Jr.

Stats: 3.6 points, 3.1 rebounds
Last ranked: 9

Pros: Started every game and leads team in offensive rebounds per minute. A big reason Memphis is among top 10 in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, according to KenPom. Had career-best nine points vs. Mercer, including seven before halftime.

Cons: Averaging just 13.7 minutes per game and rarely plays in crunch time since most of the Tigers’ opponents haven’t used traditional big men. His lack of athleticism is an ongoing problem on both ends of the floor.